America’s Coffee City
No surprise—the home of Starbucks is the mother ship for coffee-loving AFC voters. But there is more than just that familiar logo here—you’ll find plenty of indie coffeehouses all over the city, as well as espresso shacks and carts on street corners and in parking lots. All that caffeine gives the locals an edge, but in a good way: they ranked No. 2 for smartest locals in the AFC. And while colder months seem like a great time to enjoy that hot cup, the Emerald City took last place for winter visits.
Portland ranks No. 1 in the AFC for being environmentally aware: locals like their food and drink wholesome and with a local vibe. (It’s No. 1 for farmers’ markets too.) Indie coffee shops may tell you exactly where the beans came from—and one coffeehouse co-op even lets you pay whatever you deem fair. But there may be one Portland beverage that AFC voters like even more than the java: microbrews, which rank No. 1 in the survey.
As a Top 10 cultural city in the AFC survey, the City by the Bay caters to coffee lovers with well-developed palates. Big chain Peet’s started in nearby Berkeley. Caffe Trieste and Steps of Rome in North Beach appeal to old-school types. And coffee gourmands also rave about Oakland’s Blue Bottle. In top-5 shopping mecca San Francisco, your to-go cup might even be considered a fashion accessory: the locals rank No. 5 in the survey for their sense of style.
